One-piece pneumostoma management system and methods for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

A flexible pneumostoma management device maintains the patency of a pneumostoma while controlling the flow of material through the pneumostoma. The pneumostoma management device includes a pneumostoma vent having a tube which enters the pneumostoma to allow gases to escape the lung, a flange and a filter/valve to control flow of materials through the tube. The flange is a thin flexible patch which conforms and attaches to the chest of the patient. The flange secures the tube in position in the pneumostoma. The flange is formed in one piece with the tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises:
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a hydrophobic filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the hydrophobic filter. 
 
     
     
       2. A pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises:
 a tube having a first length,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter, 
 
       wherein the tube is cut to a selected second length sufficient to pass into the parenchymal tissue of the lung through the pneumostoma. 
     
     
       3. A pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises:
 a tube having a first length and adapted to be cut to a second selected length sufficient to pass into the parenchymal tissue of the lung through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung, 
 the distal end of the tube is subsequently rounded over to generate an atraumatic tip; 
 
 a flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the hydrophobic filter, 
 
       wherein the tube is cut at the distal end to the second selected length and the distal end is subsequently rounded over to generate an atraumatic tip. 
     
     
       4. A pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises:
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter, wherein the filter is substantially flush with the flange. 
 
     
     
       5. A pneumostoma management device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the pneumostoma management device comprises:
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter; 
 
       wherein the flange, filter and adhesive coating is less than 5 mm in thickness in combination. 
     
     
       6. A medical device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a substantially planar flange having a contact surface adapted to contact the chest of the patient and an outer surface,
 the flange being substantially larger in size than a pneumostoma, 
 the contact surface having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient, 
 the r flange having a substantially central opening; 
 
 a tube formed in one-piece with the flange,
 the tube projecting substantially perpendicular to the flange, 
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung, 
 the lumen of the tube communicating with the opening in the flange; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the opening such that gases passing into and out of the lung pass through the filter. 
 
     
     
       7. The medical device of  claim 6 , wherein the filter is too large to fit into through the lumen of the tube. 
     
     
       8. A medical device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a substantially planar flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter, wherein the filter is substantially flush with the flange. 
 
     
     
       9. A medical device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a substantially planar flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter; 
 
       wherein the flange, filter and adhesive coating is less than 5 mm in thickness in combination. 
     
     
       10. A medical device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a tube having a first length,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung; 
 
 a substantially planar flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter; 
 
       wherein the tube is cut to a selected second length sufficient to pass into the parenchymal tissue of the lung through the pneumostoma. 
     
     
       11. A medical device adapted to allow gases to exit parenchymal tissue of a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises:
 a tube having a first length and adapted to be cut to a second selected length sufficient to pass into the parenchymal tissue of the lung through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end, 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the parenchymal tissue of the lung, 
 the distal end of the tube is subsequently rounded over to generate an atraumatic tip; 
 
 a substantially planar flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the substantially planar flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of the flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the substantially planar flange being formed in one piece with the tube such that the lumen of the tube extends through the flange, 
 the substantially planar flange having an adhesive coating adapted to releasably secure the flange to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the lumen such that gases passing into and out of the lumen pass through the filter; 
 
       wherein the tube is cut at the distal end to the second selected length and the distal end is subsequently rounded over to generate an atraumatic tip. 
     
     
       12. A medical device adapted to allow gases to exit a lung through a pneumostoma in a chest of a patient, wherein the medical device comprises;
 a tube adapted to be inserted into the chest through the pneumostoma,
 the tube having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end 
 the distal end of the tube having at least one opening adapted to admit gases from the lung; 
 
 a flange formed in one piece with the tube at the proximal end of the tube,
 the flange having an opening which connects to the lumen of the tube, 
 the flange projecting a sufficient distance from the tube to preclude passage of flange into the pneumostoma, 
 the flange being adapted to secure the medical device to the chest of the patient; and 
 
 a filter secured to the flange over the opening such that gases passing through the tube pass through the filter. 
 
     
     
       13. The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the filter is too large to fit into through the lumen of the tube. 
     
     
       14. The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the filter is substantially flush with the flange. 
     
     
       15. The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the flange, filter and adhesive coating is less than 5 mm in thickness in combination. 
     
     
       16. The pneumostoma management device of  claim 12 , wherein the tube is cut to a selected length. 
     
     
       17. The pneumostoma management device of  claim 12 , wherein the tube is cut at the distal end to a selected length and the distal end is subsequently rounded over to generate an atraumatic tip.